Environmental policy and administrative management

Botswana experiences uncontrolled wildfires every year between August and October when climatic conditions cause fires to be intense and affect large areas. Uncontrolled wildfires fires are a hazard to life, property and affect land use and sustainability of community livelihoods. Community Based Fire Management (CBFiM) is where the community play an integral role in the management of fire throughout the landscape. The Khama Rhino Sanctuary as a well established Community Based Organisation and Project is an ideal scenario to implement an innovative CBFiM initiative involving managing Fire as a Resource to maximise the benefits of fire and minimise the negative impacts of wildfires to alleviate poverty and sustain livelihoods in Botswana. The primary objectives of the Project is to develop and implement an Integrated Fire Management Program 2009 / 2010 as a CBFiM initiative that enables the KRST to effectively manage Wildfires, Land Use and the Environment of the Khama Rhino Sanctuary to maximise the benefits of the Sanctuary to the community. Integrating adjoining neighbours including communal, leasehold and state lands will develop the capacity of the surrounding community to maximise the benefits of their areas through the CBFiM initiative.

Botswana